Many of the rituals, symbols, lore and customs connected with Christmas, the Winter Solstice, are connected to the Pagan cultures of ancient times. If you want to celebrate Christmas this year in a more Pagan way, just as in the past, here are some things to consider.

• In many of the ancient cultures we had celebrations that were way longer than just one day. With this in mind, be sure that you celebrate for longer this year. Focus on interfaith aspects and the multicultural connection that is possible.
• Use sacred colors and herbs to adorn your home. Use the Druidic colors like green, white and red. Use evergreen boughs, pine cones and holly in the home. Mistletoe can be added above the areas where a lot of people will socialize. Pagan symbols can be used to decorate and this is actually a pretty good idea if you truly want to celebrate Winter Solstice in the traditional way.
• Always convey love to your friends, co-workers and family. This celebration is all about love. In Saturnalia there was a custom where friends and family did feast together and then exchanged presents. This is what inspired the current Christmas traditions but you can take it one step further by simply organizing something a gathering.
• Change the way you look at Santa Claus. You should know that Santa Claus has a strong Pagan background. The characteristics that appear now are a mix of Cronos, the Holly King, Father Ice, Thor, Saturn, Frey and Odin. Because of this, try to teach the children about all these aspects.
• Never forget about light. The Solstice Eve ritual will offer you a great experience. Indoor fireplaces and outdoor fire will be great. Sing the Pagan carols and then light up the entire home.
• The Winter Solstice will always be about helping others. Because of this, make sure that you donate something. You do not necessarily need to donate money. Clothing and food will be appreciated by the people that are poor near where you live. Alternatively, try to volunteer for a charity. This is a great time of the year to basically give back.

Learn more about the Winter Solstice and think about what celebrations are great for you this year. There are so many options available, all based on the culture that you get inspiration from.

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What This Astronomical Phenomenon Represents

For those who might not be familiar with details about the winter solstice, we thought it would be useful and interesting to reveal some of the unknown details about the phenomenon. First of all, during the solstice, the axial tilt of the Earth occurs which brings various gyroscopic effects due to its daily rotation. This means that two opposite points in the sky change in a very slow motion managing to make a full circle every 26.000 years.

Winter in One Hemisphere, summer in the Other Hemisphere

Due to the way in which the Earth follows the orbit around the Sun, we see the polar hemisphere facing towards the sun half of the year, thus enabling the season we know as summer. The other half of the year, the Sun faces away from the sun resulting the winter season as we know it. How is this possible? Because the two hemispheres always face opposite sides along the Earth axis. This is how it is possible for half of the hemisphere to experience winter while the other experiences the summer season.

Various Interpretations across Cultures           

The winter solstice has been interpreted differently in various cultures for many years. In some of these culture it is considered a sign of recognition for the process of rebirth whereas others just know it for the type of holidays it symbolizes. In many cultures, there are numerous festivals and rituals that take place every year when the winter solstice occurs. Each of these events are interesting to analyze and if possible participate in at least once in a lifetime. Endless knowledge about other people’s culture can easily be revealed this way.

Winter Solstice Celebrations for Families

The winter solstice represents an amazing opportunity for you to celebrate with your family. It can become a yearly event meant to help you strengthen your bond with the family by spending quality time together. It can also represent yet another reason for expanding upon the existing patterns of celebration in your family. Furthermore, why should you not consider this event as the special moment when connecting with ancestors through shared memories becomes possible? You will discover a lot about them and how certain events in your family have happened. Additionally, spiritual renewal and sharing the love you feel for your family members can also become essential during the winter solstice.

All in all, the winter solstice is an interesting astronomic event that we should all know about. Doing something special when it occurs can become a great way of celebrating feelings of love and recognition for important things. Spending time with family is yet another great thing to do during the winter solstice. Sharing interesting memories and having fun together will create amazing new memories for the future.

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